Is There Such a Thing as Blogging Etiquette?

Is There Such a Thing as Blogging Etiquette? I admit, I am fairly new to the blogosphere (having only had my blog up for two and a half months). That being said, I’ve come across a lot of different standards of etiquette in blogging. There seem to be general rules of etiquette in place—the behavior of most—like replying when someone comments on a post or being courteous, especially when you are dealing with a controversial topic. But then there are gray areas, most noticeably when follows and likes are concerned.

For the last few weeks, I’ve been pondering this thought: Is it considered rude to not thank someone for liking a post or following my site? The last thing I want to do is to take your interest in what I have to say for granted; I value every follower I have, particularly those who let me know they are still reading through their comments and likes.

But I generally don’t thank people for their taste: good, bad, or indifferent. I also don’t thank someone for introducing themselves to me in “real life.” I would say, “It’s nice to meet you,” but I don’t thank them. Generally, my actions following the introduction will indicate whether it was welcome or not (based on whether I make any effort to stay in touch with the person and how I respond to any attempts at further, future communication on their part).

And if I thank a follower, or someone for liking a post, what am I thanking them for? Adding to the success of my blog? Becoming another number in my scheme to take over the blogosphere? (Or at least, my goal of carving out my niche within it…schemes for worldwide domination are a bit beyond me.) 🙂

In the blogosphere, you are undeniably and unavoidably a number. A click. Traffic that drives up how valuable and influential the blog you read is. However, you are still a person, taking time out of your day to read something I’ve read when you could spend that time in literally hundreds of other ways, and I don’t take that lightly. I just haven’t figured out what is the acceptable way of demonstrating my appreciation.

I don’t want to clutter up other people’s websites with my thanks if they don’t want them there (sometimes, professional blogs don’t seem to have a space designated for such comments). Many have turned the “About” or “Contact” page as a site for all such communications, but I’m not sure if that was the author’s intention.

There is usually the option of following the other person back (and cynical bloggers suggest that this is the real reason some people follow others in the first place), but I can’t always do a “follow-back.” Some don’t have a blog, and others focus on topics that are outside my range of interests—and even if they are interesting and well-written, as the hands-on caregiver of two very active small boys, I have to be very selective. I don’t always have a lot of time to write, much less read, so I can’t keep up on everyone’s blog. When I follow a blog, I truly follow it, reading the new posts as they come out and keeping up on what is written.

So currently, the only wholly acceptable means of thanking you all is to write posts like this. Thank you for reading! I am delighted whenever WordPress notifies me that one of you have stopped by, and I always try to go and check out your websites, if you have one, in return.

And if you were curious, if I like your posts or follow you, you don’t have to thank me for it. Just keep writing: that’s thanks enough.

Copyright 2014 Andrea Lundgren